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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Olmert ally calls on PM to resign | Olmert ally calls on PM to resign |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A senior member of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party has called for him to resign over his handling of last year's Lebanon war. | A senior member of Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's Kadima party has called for him to resign over his handling of last year's Lebanon war. |
| Avigdor Yitzhaki, the chairman and co-founder of the party, told Israel Radio the prime minister had to go so Kadima "can continue with his mandate". | Avigdor Yitzhaki, the chairman and co-founder of the party, told Israel Radio the prime minister had to go so Kadima "can continue with his mandate". |
| His call comes after a Labour Party minister from the coalition quit, saying he could not serve Mr Olmert. | His call comes after a Labour Party minister from the coalition quit, saying he could not serve Mr Olmert. |
| It follows a report accusing him of judgement failures over the war. | It follows a report accusing him of judgement failures over the war. |
| The prime minister has called a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the findings if the report. | The prime minister has called a special cabinet meeting on Wednesday to discuss the findings if the report. |
| According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Mr Yitzhaki has said he will resign if Mr Olmert does not step down in the course of the day. | According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Mr Yitzhaki has said he will resign if Mr Olmert does not step down in the course of the day. |
| Under pressure | Under pressure |
| Newspaper polls published on Wednesday suggest that the vast majority of Israelis want Mr Olmert to leave office. | |
| A poll in the mass circulation Yediot Aharonot had 65% of Israelis questioned wanting Mr Olmert out, compared with just 10% who thought he should stay. | |
| A survey in the liberal Haaretz daily had 68% calling for his resignation and 40% backing early parliamentary elections. | |
| A poll published in the Maariv daily put the percentage of people wanting Mr Olmert to quit even higher, at 73%. | |
| The six-month government probe, led by retired judge Eliahu Winograd, accused Mr Olmert of "serious failure in exercising judgement, responsibility and prudence" during the war against Hezbollah. | The six-month government probe, led by retired judge Eliahu Winograd, accused Mr Olmert of "serious failure in exercising judgement, responsibility and prudence" during the war against Hezbollah. |
| The responsibility is on the prime minister, defence minister and chief of staff Report verdict Olmert remains defiant href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6610745.stm">Press urges Olmert to go class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6608925.stm">Report: Key excerpts | |
| It also accused Defence Minister Amir Peretz and then chief of staff General Dan Halutz of serious failures, but stopped short of calling for any resignations. | It also accused Defence Minister Amir Peretz and then chief of staff General Dan Halutz of serious failures, but stopped short of calling for any resignations. |
| Gen Halutz has already stepped down, and Mr Olmert and Mr Peretz are under pressure. | Gen Halutz has already stepped down, and Mr Olmert and Mr Peretz are under pressure. |
| Following the publication of the report, Mr Olmert said he intended to stay in office. | Following the publication of the report, Mr Olmert said he intended to stay in office. |
| He has yet to respond to the call from his chairman for his resignation. | He has yet to respond to the call from his chairman for his resignation. |
| Confidence crisis | Confidence crisis |
| Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Yitzhaki said that since there are no elections in sight Mr Olmert must step aside: | Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Yitzhaki said that since there are no elections in sight Mr Olmert must step aside: |
| "The Kadima party must choose its chief for the three years that remain for the (current) legislature," he said. | "The Kadima party must choose its chief for the three years that remain for the (current) legislature," he said. |
| "A leader can only lead a public where he has, firstly, legitimacy and its confidence. The prime minister should act responsibly and resign to allow a new coalition to be formed by Kadima." | "A leader can only lead a public where he has, firstly, legitimacy and its confidence. The prime minister should act responsibly and resign to allow a new coalition to be formed by Kadima." |
| Israelis react to the report on the handling of the war in LebanonIn pictures | Israelis react to the report on the handling of the war in LebanonIn pictures |
| On Tuesday cabinet minister Eitan Cabel, a member of the Labour Party, the main partner in the ruling coalition with Mr Olmert's Kadima party, became the first member of the Mr Olmert's government to resign over the report. | On Tuesday cabinet minister Eitan Cabel, a member of the Labour Party, the main partner in the ruling coalition with Mr Olmert's Kadima party, became the first member of the Mr Olmert's government to resign over the report. |
| "I cannot sit in a government headed by Ehud Olmert," Mr Cabel said, calling for Mr Olmert to resign immediately. | "I cannot sit in a government headed by Ehud Olmert," Mr Cabel said, calling for Mr Olmert to resign immediately. |
| Mr Cabel, who did not hold a portfolio, said Mr Olmert should resign as he had "lost the trust of the people" following the investigation. | Mr Cabel, who did not hold a portfolio, said Mr Olmert should resign as he had "lost the trust of the people" following the investigation. |
| Mr Olmert is already suffering unprecedented unpopularity levels and is expected to face calls for his resignation at a mass rally planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv. | Mr Olmert is already suffering unprecedented unpopularity levels and is expected to face calls for his resignation at a mass rally planned for Thursday in Tel Aviv. |
| About 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed after Israel launched a 34-day war against Hezbollah militants who had captured two Israeli soldiers. | About 1,200 Lebanese and 160 Israelis were killed after Israel launched a 34-day war against Hezbollah militants who had captured two Israeli soldiers. |
| The two soldiers remain in captivity. | The two soldiers remain in captivity. |